Zumbrota-Mazeppa ends SG/C softball season

Published June 4, 2013 at 8:17 am

The Spring Grove/Caledonia softball Lions saw their tournament run end with a tough, 4-1 loss to Zumbrota-Mazeppa in the section 1AA tournament at Austin on May 28.

The Cougars got a two-hit shutout from pitcher Morgan Olson as the freshman kept the Lions in check, minus a solo home run from Samantha Bratland in the bottom of the second inning that put SG/C up 1-0. But after that it was all Z-M.

The Cougars took the lead in the top of the third at 2-1 when Rachel Mensik drew a one-out walk and Olson reached on an error. Bratland then struck out Lydia Wagner, but Tayler Mort singled scoring Mensik and Olson.

Olson retired the Lions in order in the bottom of the third, and the Cougars added two more runs in the fourth on a ground out from Ali Frederixon that scored Cait Heitman and a double from Alyssa Quam, who scored on a grounder and error to put the Cougars up 4-1.

SG/C put together a threat in the fourth when Lottie Augedahl reached on an error and moved to third on a passed ball. With two outs Taylor Augedahl walked to put runners on the corners, but Olson got Marie Doering to ground out to second to end the inning.

The Lions went in order in the fifth but got a runner on base in the sixth when Bratland reached on an error with two outs, but Lauren Rusert popped up to third. Bratland retired the Cougars in order in the sixth but gave up a base hit and walk in the top of the seventh before getting Henning to pop up to Taylor Augedahl at short to end the threat.

In the bottom of the seventh Olson retired Taylor Augedahl and Doering before Allison Goergen singled to keep the Lions alive, but Sophia Augedahl grounded out to short to end the game – and the Lions season with a 4-1 loss.

Morgan Olson got the win, going seven innings with four strikeouts and two walks. Samantha Bratland took the loss; striking out seven and walking four as the Lions end their season with a 16-9 overall record, including winning nine of their last 12 games.

Win over La Crescent

The Lions advanced to the game with Z-M with a 12-2 win over La Crescent May 24 at St. Charles.

The Lions tagged La Crescent starter Liesl Allen for four runs in the first inning as Cara Stemper singled, Alexy Bearbower reached on an error, Lottie Augedahl doubled and Taylor Augedahl and Doering also drove in runs in the inning.

La Crescent scored as well in the first on a lead-off double by Morgan Armstrong and a ground out to second by Amber Pfiffner that scored Armstrong. The Lions tacked on another run in the second and fourth innings and then added three more in the fifth.

Stemper reached on a fielder’s choice and Bearbower singled. Lottie Augedahl drew a walk and Rusert laced a two-run single. Stemper scored on a wild pitch to put the Lions up 9-2. SG/C wrapped up the win with a 3-run sixth that pushed the lead to 10 at 12-2.

Goergen reached on an error to lead off and with one out Sophie Augedahl walked and Bearbower singled. Augedahl and Bratland then hit back-to-back base hits with Bratland’s ending the game at the 12-2 final. Lottie Augedahl was 4×4 in the game with a walk and a double to lead the offense, while Samantha Bratland got the win, going six innings, striking out 12 and allowing just one walk and five hits.

Loss to Winona Cotter

On May 24 the Lions lost 1-0 to Winona Cotter when their pitcher Katie Nachtigal allowed just three hits and drove in the only run of the game with a SAC fly to give the Ramblers a 1-0 win over SG/C.

Samantha Bratland fired a one-hitter for the Lions, but the Ramblers scored the only run of the game in the top of the first after Gabby Bowlin led off with a walk and advanced to second on Hannah Kosel’s single to right. Bratland threw a wild pitch, putting runners on second and third, Bowlin scored on Nachtigal’s sacrifice fly to right field for the only run of the game.

After the first inning Bratland retired the Ramblers in order the next five innings as the SG/C defense clamped down and didn’t allow another base runner the entire game.

The Lions put runners on base in the fourth when Bratland singled and Lauren Rusert walked, but Nachtigal retired Taylor Augedahl and Marie Doering.

SG/C put two more runners on in the sixth when Alexy Bearbower and Bratland both reached with one out with Bearbower reaching third and Bratland moving to second on Rusert’s ground out to first. But Taylor Augedahl hit a roller in front of home plate and was thrown out at first to end the threat.

After Bratland retired Cotter in order for the fifth straight inning Nachtigal ended the game by striking out Doering and grounding out Angie Augedahl and Sophie Augedahl.